Lock for straps of mail-bags.



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J. B. GATHRIGHT.

LOCK FOR STRAPS 0F MAIL BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2I.1914.

Patented July 6, 1915.

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JOSIAH B. GATI-IRIG-HT, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

LOCK FOR STRAPS 0F MAIL-BAGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented July 6, 1915..

Application filed April 27, 1914. Serial No. 834,856.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH B. GATHRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Looks for Straps of Mail-Bags, of which the following is a speci-' fication.

This invention relates to locking means for the straps of mail bags and consists in the peculiar constructions and correlations of parts substantially as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

One of the most important purposes of the present invention is to provide a most sim ple and practicable means whereby the hasps of mail bag straps may be locked to their fastenings in less time than by the means now employed for this purpose.

This object and others which will hereinafter appear are well accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device applied to a hasp and in position wherein it locks the latter. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, with the hasp in engagement with the locking device, the latter being shown in unlocked position. Fig. 3 is a View in side elevation of the upper member of the locking means. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the complementary parts of the lower member, separated from each other and viewed from the upper side. Fig.

6 is a view of the under face of cap C, disclosing the locking mechanism.

The means forming the present invention comprise a base member A and a top member B, each provided with one or more members of a mechanism acting in correlation to automatically lock the said top member when it is turned into a right angular position with respect to the base member; a hasp H provided with openings suitable in size and shape to engage said base member, and a key adapted to release the locked member.

The base member A is adapted to be securely riveted, or otherwise fastened to the strap S, and is suitably formed to engage any one of a plurality of suitable openings in the metal hasp H. In practice the base member is preferably one inch long, one half inch wide, and one quarter inch high, and the openings in the hasp are made to conform in size and shape thereto. It is provided with a suitable cap C.

The top member, B is centrally pivoted on the base member A, and firmly secured thereto by a strong tubular pin 6, which is integral with member B or firmly secured thereto. The base lines of the member B register with the top outlines of the member A, aifording smooth passage for the hasp H over the lock when the two parts are parallel, WVhen the hasp has been looped over the look, a quarter turn of the member B by the fingers brings said member in right angle position to member A, with its two ends projecting over the hasp and securely holding it down. thus turned at right angles to member A it is automatically locked in that position and can only be released by the special key provided therefor. To facilitate the placing of the hasp over the lock the top of member B is preferably rounded on all sides.

To make the lock practically unbreakable, member B may be a solid casting and mem ber A is strongly braced by shouldered rivets or by passing the rivets which secure it to the strap through tubes 3, which efiectually prevents the possibility of its being crushed or bentthe tubes being of length to fit snugly between the two bearing surfaces.

A pin 8 in member B engages a radial slot 7 in cap Cthe slot being slightly longer than a quadrantthe slot and pin cooperating to limit the movement of member B to a right angular position with respect to member A and a return to its normal position with it.

Suitable. mechanism for automatically locking member B when turned to right angular position to member A is shown in Fig. 6. A flat steel spring R is fastened at one end to cap C by rivet 3. The end D of the spring is turned at right angles to project into the slot to engage pin 8 and hold member B when said member has been turned to a position right angular to member A. When the member B is released and returned to unlocked position-parallel to member Athe pin 8 has moved to the end of slot 7 and when again turning member B to locked position the pin 8 must pass under member D of the spring. To provide for this the under surface of member D is beveled and the top of the pin beveled so When the member B is that in turning member B for locking the pin 8 wedges its Way beneath the spring back to locked position. To unlock, the key lifts lip E, and both may be specially formed.

It will be readily seen that this device will efiiciently accomplish the purpose for which it is intended, and that the automatic locking feature will efiect a material saving in time in putting up mail matter, for at present a disconnected lock must be procured, the hasp then engaged With the staple, the lock then engaged with the staple, and then looked, making four movements necessary each time a bag is locked. lVith this improved device only two movements are necessary, and both of these movements require less time than the first movement under the present planthat of getting the lock.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a look, a base member, a top member centrally pivoted thereon, an arcuate slot in the bearing face of one member, a pin to engage the slot mounted on the face of the other member, a sheet metal spring mounted upon the slotted member and having a part adapted to project into the slot to engage the pin and hold it in locked position.

2. In a lock, a base member, a top member centrally pivoted thereon, the top member having a pin in its bearing surface and the base member having an arcuate slot for the pin adapted to limit the movement of the pin in both directions, a sheet metal spring mounted at one end of the slotted member and provided at the other end with a locking member adapted to rest normally in the slot and having a slanted under surface to cooperate with the beveled top of the pin.

3. In a look, a base member, a top member centrally pivoted thereon, the top member havin a pin in its bearing surface and the base member having an arcuate slot for the pin adapted to limit the movement of the pin in both directions, a sheet metal spring secured at one end of the slotted member and having a locking portion at the other end, and an intermediate portion adapted to cooperate with a key to disengage the locked portion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSIAH B. GATHl-tlillll.

Witnesses E. S. Foo'rn,

W. T. BAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

